Guiding means to aid in laying walls of blocks



W. H. SMITH.

GUIDING MEANS T0 AID IN LAYING WALLS 0F BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1921.

1,414,755. I atented May 2, 19212.

PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAM H. SMITH, OF THAMES DITTON, ENGLAND.

Application filed May 9, 1921.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Serial No. 468,044.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 1313.)

'ain, No. 27,958, Nov. 11, 1919,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the erection of buildings or structures, principally those composed of concrete blocks and is particularly applicable to blocks of the type similar to that described in my United States application Serial No. 403,547 filed August 14, 1920, but also applicable to any form of structure composed of small units such as bricks and the like.

It has for its principal objects, the saving of labour and the more rapid and efficient erection of structures and whilst it is'principally intended for the rapid erection of straight walls of any desired length, the de sign may be changed to make it applicable to walls having various contours without departing from the characteristic features of the structure.

V For the construction of walls,piers and the like, it is usual to use a string line and plumb-bob in order to provide for the alignment of the blocks or bricks being laid, and considerable time is taken up in setting the bricks up to the line without deflecting the line from its true course.

My invention is primarily intended to obviate the necessity of carefully handling the blocks or bricks and to provide for a definite face or faces against which the blocks or bricks forming the structure can be placed accurately and quickly without disturbing the means of alignment. It also serves to provide a means of determining the correct location of the joints between the various blocks or bricks forming the structure.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention.

Fig. 1 represents a horizontal section through a former constructed for use with triangular blocks.

Fig. 2 represents a former constructed in accordance with my invention supported on the course previously laid.

Fig. 4 represents a detail of a hinged clip to enlarged scale.

The former A of Figs. 2 and 3 comprises horizontal front members a which may be of solid construction or composed of top and'bottom members held at requisite distance apart by bracing.

Vertical gauging strips a are placed at distances apart equal to the horizontal length of the blocks and when employed for my triangular blocks the strips havethe trough section shown in Fig. 1, it being understood that the shape of the trough may be modified according to the pointing required.

In laying the blocks, a layer of mortar is first placed on the top of the course previouslylaid and each block is pressed against the former with the chamfered edges in contact with the edges of the gauging strips (1 the block is then pressed down until the top face is in line with the top edge of the former. By this means the block is quickly placed accurately in position with its face truly vertical, at correct horizontal spacing,

- and with its top edge. level and at the correct course height. 7

When the blocks have been firmly placed against the former and pressed down on their bed untilthe upper edge is'level with the upper edge of the former, I'may employ hinged clips or the like 70 Fig. 4 carried from the former in order to hold the block until the mortar has set for the purpose of overcoming the tendency for the triangular blocks to tilt forward towards their apex. These clips conveniently comprise portions is secured to the members a carrying hinged thereto bent straps 70 adapted to be swung into the cavities to the position shown; handles [a are provided for manipulating the clips.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the former a is shown as a triangle frame with a back member a and bracing a The frame is hinged by pivots d to two or more saddles (Z which rest upon the top of the wall w already built and are provided with fixing screws d and with screws d for adjusting the former so that the top edge is truly horizontal.

In the illustration shown in Fig. 1 these v required setting responding former at the back of the wall thus automatically leaving the requisite grouting space 0 between the blocks.

The portion 0' of the space which faces the augin strio's a ma be filled with semit b 1 dry or wet mortar which 1s tamped into position and gives a pointing effect. 15

do occur must be placed in position after The back blocks at points where saddles the former has been removed.

A. depending bracket 6 attached to each saddle bears upon the front surface of the wall and serves as an abutment for a screw a, passing through the back member a by means of which the edge of the former is trued vertically.

F or gauging the inside blocks, an inside former A may be supported on the back of the saddle by means of dowel or equivalent fastenings and adjustably held in position.

by swing bolts rf.

The saddles d are preferably placed as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 1 so that the centre line of each coincides with a strip a the corresponding block b is then placed subsequently.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 posts 7' are set accurately in a vertical position and are provided with means for supporting and guiding the former A.

The posts f may form part of gauntries the other legs j of which may be employed for supporting scafiold.

The posts 7 are shown provided with holes f spaced at distances apart equal to the height of the course and pins 9 pass through these holes and through corresponding holes in the back members a of the former A. in order to stagger the joints in successive courses, a second pair of holes h are provided in the former at distance from the first equal to half the horizontal distance between centres of the blocks or other and between alternate courses the former is moved so as to bring the holes it into register with the holes 7.

I claim I 1. A guide for facilitating the erection of b ck walls, comprising saddles adapted to n the top of a course of blocks previizus-ly laid. a former supported by the saddles adapted to guide the blocks of a course being aid into position, spacing elements mounted on the former adapted to engage the ends of -the blocks and provide space for pointing. inc means for bra ing and adjusting said former on the saddles.

2. A guide for facilitating the erection of block walls, comprising saddles adapted to fiton the top of a course of blocks previously laid, a former supported by the saddles, adapted to guide the blocks of a course being laid into position, the faces of the blocks engaging the former, and spacing members nounted on the former adapted to fit between and engage the ends of the blocks for providing a pointing space between the blocks. '7 5 3. A. guide for facilitating the erection of block structures comprising a former having a horizontal contour conforming to the hori zontal contour of the portion of the structure to be built, mean for supporting the block structures, comprising saddles adapted to straddle the top edge of a course already erected, a former mounted on the saddles having a horizontal contour conforming to the horizontal contour of the portion of the structure to be built, and having the top edge thereof at a height abovesaid previously laid course equal to the height of the course to be laid, and means for adjusting and hold-' ing the former in vertical position.

5. A guide for facilitating the erection of block structures, comprising a plurality of saddles arranged at interval and straddling the top edges of a structure already erected,

a former mounted on the saddles having a horizontal contour conforming to the horizontal contour of the portion of the structure-to be built, and having the top edge at a height above the course previously laid equal to the height of the course to be laid,

means for adjusting and holding the former in vertical position, and'means for leveling the top edge of the former.

6. Aguide for facilitating the erection of hollow block structures comprising a former, having a predeterminedhorizontal contour, mean for supporting the former in vertical position with the top edge at a height above a course previously laid equal to the height of the course to be laid, and clips hinged'to the former adapted to engage the inner surfaces of cavities in the blocks.

7. Means for facilitating the erection of block structures, comprising a plurality of saddles adapted to straddle the top edge of the structure already erected at intervals, a former mounted on the saddles having a horizontal contour conforming to the horizontal contour of the portion of the structure to be'built, and having a top edge at a height above the previous course-of blocks equal to the height of the course to be built for guiding the blocks at the front face of the Wall, means for adjusting and holding the face of the former in vertical position, a second former for guiding the blocks along the rear face of the Wall mounted on the saddles and having the same features as the first mentioned former, and detachable means for connecting the first former to the second former.

8. A guide for facilitating the erection of block structures, comprising saddles adapted to fit on the top of a course of blocks previously laid, a former supported by the saddles adapted to guide the blocks of a course being laid into position brace members extending from the former, brackets carried by the saddles, adjusting means engaging the brackets and brace members for adjusting the former, a former supported on the saddle at the opposite side of the Wall, and adjustable means connecting the formers together.

9. A guide for facilitating the erection of block Walls, comprising saddles adapted to fit on the top of a course of blocks previously laid, a former supported by the saddles adapted to guide the blocks of a course being laid into position, brace members extending from the former, brackets carried by the saddles, and adjusting means engaging the brackets and brace members for adjusting the former.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. SMITH. 

